School Board To Discuss Budget, High School Consolidation On Tuesday

ENFIELD — — The school board will continue to discuss the proposed budget for 2012-13 at its meeting on Tuesday.

Superintendent Jeffrey Schumann submitted a $66.9 million budget proposal in January. It includes funding for several initiatives, including all-day kindergarten, the expansion of the school system's iPad program and three new middle school sports teams.

Schumann's proposal represents an increase of 5.98 percent, or $3.7 million, over this fiscal year's budget.

Since Schumann made his request, the board has held several informational meetings on the budget. Board Chairman Tim Neville said his board will begin to decide Tuesday what will be included in the board's request to the town council.

The board will vote on a budget before the end of the month, he said.

"This is a long process," Neville said.

The school board will also discuss the consolidation of Enfield and Enrico Fermi high schools.

Voters approved a plan to close Enrico Fermi and renovate and expand Enfield High School in November, and the board is responsible for deciding on certain details of the project.

It must select the consolidated high school's mascot and colors, and it has asked students to help make those decisions.

There were surveys distributed at both the town's high schools and the middle school, and the schools will present the results to the board Tuesday, Neville said.